A London Times correspondent reporting from Moscow stated that "thousands of soldiers and 500 combat vehicles will take part in ‘Peace Mission 2007,' organised by the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia . . . Scores of Russian and Chinese aircraft begin joint exercises tomorrow before a week of military manoeuvres . . . At least 6,500 troops are involved in what is described as an anti-terror exercise" (Aug. 6, 2007).

Some observers see these Russo-Chinese military activities as a potential rival to NATO. From the biblical point of view, perhaps it is even a forerunner of what will become a vast end-time army that is prophesied to descend on the Middle East. Not long before the second coming of Christ, the "kings from the east" will play a major prophetic role in the world (Revelation 16:12).

In any event, the Times article concludes with the disturbing thought that "a newly assertive Russia, flush with oil and gas revenues, is moving rapidly to increase its military capability amid tensions with the West over missile defence and NATO expansion. Almost £100 billion [$200 billion] has been set aside for rearmament over the next eight years." (Source: The Times [London].)